THIRD WORLD CONFERENCE AGAINST RACISM, RACIAL
DISCRIMINATION,
XENOPHOBIA AND RELATED INTOLERANCE

DURBAN, SOUTH AFRICA

31 AUGUST - 07 SEPTEMBER 2001

A STATEMENT OF
THE SOUTH AFRICAN NATIONAL INSTITUTIONS TO THE PLENARY

Chairperson and distinguished delegates. Thank you for giving
the South African national institutions an opportunity to share with you our
collective experiences in combating racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia
and related intolerances.

Racism and racial discrimination have for over 350 years become deeply ingrained
in the lives of South Africans. The struggle against racism and racial discrimination
has been well documented and the international solidarity against apartheid
certainly hastened its demise.

In 1994 a new Constitution was adopted. It sets the values and legal framework
for the creation of a non-racist and non-sexist South Africa. Included in that
Constitution is the creation of institutions to support constitutional democracy.
These include amongst others, the South African Human Rights Commission, the
Commission on Gender Equality, the Independent Electoral Commission and the
Public Protector.

Racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance continue to
manifest themselves in various forms, including, racial violence, hate crimes
and economic and social disparities. Economic policies of the past have served
to marginalize rural people and their communities and have created a reservoir
of poverty. These policies have become a contemporary manifestation of racism.
The establishment of a society free of racism will contribute to the eradication
of poverty and the promotion of sustainable human development.

Structures such as the judiciary and other institutions which dispense justice
still do not adequately reflect the diversity of our people. All these continue
to undermine the realization of a truly non-racial and non-sexist society. The
advent of the new democracy has resulted in South Africa having to assume its
responsibilities among the community of nations. Among these is the duty and
responsibility to provide sanctuary for and express solidarity with the plight
of refugees and asylum seekers. Their presence in our country has led to unacceptable
levels of xenophobia and intolerance, directed particularly at people of African
decent. Denial, evasion and an unwillingness to accept both the legacy of racism
and its current manifestations, obstruct efforts to redress racism.

Victims of racism continue to be poor black people mainly in rural areas. Many
of these are African women. Similarly, people infected and/or affected by HIV/AIDS
suffer multiple forms of racial and gendered discrimination. Again, the majority
of these are African women and children.

National institutions have employed various measures to combat racism and gender
discrimination. These include anti-racism initiatives such as national inquiries
into racism in the education system, the media and investigations of racism
in the police and the judiciary. These enquiries embody a gender sensitive format.

In addition, legislative, administrative and other measures have been implemented
to deal with the demons of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related
intolerance. As a precursor to this conference, we held a gender summit and
one of the themes explored was the intersectionality between race and gender.

Last year we convened a national conference against racism at the request of
President Mbeki under the theme "Combating Racism: A Nation in Dialogue".
The conference adopted the "Millennium Statement". The statement serves
as a basis around which all anti-racism initiatives can be consolidated. The
conference, the first of it's kind in our country brought together South Africans
in a common commitment to share experiences and chart a vision for the future.
It was a resounding success. Among some of the key recommendations was a call
to establish a national anti-racism forum. Much progress has been made in this
regard. Provincial and local racism conferences have been held in most parts
of the country.

There is a powerful and growing momentum that has become unstoppable and will,
we hope result, in the birth of a strong national anti-racist movement. We are
also preparing, in a consultative process, a national action plan and strategy
to combat racism.

As South African national institutions we aim to continue
to work at the national and international levels to combat this scourge of racism
as well as the intersectionality between gender and race. We remain willing
to join individual and collective efforts in supporting the global and national
movements to eradicate racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related
intolerance.

We are at the beginning of the threshold of the African Century. New and exciting
possibilities beckon. Much rests on our shoulders to create a better tomorrow
for ourselves and for future generations.